Report: Politically connected dodge Philly tickets

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A report commissioned by the chief justice of the state Supreme Court says ticket-fixing is a rampant problem in Philadelphia with politically connected citizens frequently receiving special consideration.

The report obtained by The Philadelphia Inquirer found the offices of U.S. Rep. Bob Brady and other officials frequently requested “special consideration” for tickets. Brady denies asking any special favors.

The Inquirer (http://bit.ly/Y3fLXE) also reports Wednesday that a Traffic Court judge acquitted the wife of state Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery in a case after he spoke with a top court administrator. McCaffery says he didn’t ask for special treatment but wanted an out-of-county judge to hear his wife’s case because a city judge may recognize his wife and be put in a “bad position.”

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Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille commissioned the report. He relieved the Traffic Court’s top judge of his duties last year after his office was raided by federal agents.